I’m off to Devon next week on a well-deserved break. I will also be taking the time to visit the Devon Heritage Centre and am ready to dive into the microfiche, thumb the trade directories and search the archive. Should be a lot of fun! Hopefully I’ll find out more about the drapery business and make some more connections further back in time. Unfortunately some of the local records are being re-shelved and may be unavailable, but by emailing ahead I’ve got a few documents set aside for me by the very helpful Mandy.

The next day we’re going to visit Sampford Courtenay, where the Ellicotts were based until the move to Torquay, and see if we can find some pertinent gravestones in the churchyard.

And relax…